A Song of Ice and Fire

By Sophia Doshi

George R.R. Martin has created another world with ink on paper that whisks readers away to a place of death, fear, and constant change. It sounds like my worst nightmare if I lived in that world. He certainly does not shy away from the high fantasy aspect of his worldbuilding, much like Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. There is no way to properly describe the grandeur and detail of this series, which has been translated beautifully into the TV series (see my review of Game of Thrones here). It is hard to review all of the books in one go, but I'll certainly try.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the (published) books in the series until Martin gives us a brief look at The Winds of Winter at the end of A Dance with Dragons. While some chapters (especially those with Bran) dragged on, others with Daenerys and Jon progressed rapidly, yet the entire series was very enjoyable. Interestingly, although the books seemed like endless words on a page at times, I always found myself wanting more, which is often hard to coax out of me with high fantasy.

The fantastical story-building and character arcs contained within the stories blew me out of the water, and although I had seen the TV series before reading the books, I felt as though I was reading an entirely new story. I noticed many differences between the books and the show, namely in Daenerys's personality and Cersei's inner complexities. Daenerys has a savior complex, which is something that King's Landing could use. She's like a fiercer, more deserving version of Margaery Tyrell. Cersei, well, she believed she was her father and that the members of the court wronged her by not treating her so.

Yet she does not realize that in the world of ASOIAF, as well as in the real world, women are treated differently than men, regardless of status, power, or personality. A queen of a realm would be viewed differently than a knight at a dinner table. It is the same way that a woman CEO would be viewed compared to a stay-at-home father. One has status, power, and personality that differs from the other, and yet the woman will always be viewed as inferior. I shouldn't get into the politics of it now, as they are extensive, but they are true.

I believe that from what I've read, Jon would have made a worthy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Without knowing it, he unofficially led the men of the Night's Watch before he was ever officially given the title of Lord Commander. He never asked for power, he never knew he could command it (no pun intended), but he was born to be a leader. After all, he was born to two people of royal blood: Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen (my two favorite families, in that order), even though nobody knew it at the time. While he remains Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, an unworthy family of Westeros reigns over the Iron Throne because Martin cannot go more than half a book without exiling or killing a worthy or "good" character. It does make for quite an exciting story, though.

My favorite character is Daenerys, as she is the most consistent (and undead) character throughout the series (thus far); I hope Martin will not kill her off in the last book (if he ever publishes it). The way she grows from a meek, timid girl to a powerful young ruler is a true character arc. From persevering through the tumult of her marriage to Khal Drogo and the loss of her child to the underestimation of her by much of the world, she remained steadfast in her efforts to reclaim her birthright. As a ruler should, she has a vision of a better world with a firm touch. Firm does not equate to death for Daenerys, unlike how the rest of the world, especially Westeros, views it.

If all of the morally good characters weren't dead, I'm sure I'd have a larger list. The show portrayed many of the book's crueler or more cowardly characters as more likable (Tyrion, Sam, etc.), so I was limited in my choice of favorite characters. I like the "good" ones, but some of them are just not "good" (or cool) enough to be liked. Jaime? Too much of an ego. Brienne? Too insecure (although I cannot fault her for that, as I have my own insecurities). Melisandre? I actually kind of like her, which is contrary to how I felt about her while watching the show. She is truer to her faith and not acting as some sort of figure that means to influence the pawns of Westeros.

She may come off as manipulative, but it may not be her fault. Across a lot of literature and visual media, especially in the fantasy genre, the religious presence tends to hint at involuntary brainwashing, leading to subconscious, voluntary participation in the religious organization. Look at the Red Paladins (Cursed), the Jedi Order (Star Wars), the Covenant (Halo), and the Ministry of Magic (Harry Potter), among others. All participants in these organizations have been led to believe that their purpose is to serve these organizations' higher purpose(s), which can be destructive for the individual, the organization, and the world around them. Thankfully, plot armor written by Martin guarantees that his world will not be (completely) destroyed from the inside out by religious organizations.

Not-so-subtle religious themes are not the only ones in the series. Power, death, and morality are major players in the "game of thrones." Another 'big three' in GOT are dragons, the Wall, and the Iron Throne, which represent absolute power ("absolute power corrupts absolutely"), corruption (the White Walkers are a mirror image of the blind following of the powerful families by commonfolk), and survival, as whoever sits on the throne has the most power, yet is the most hated figure in Westeros. Just look at Aerys (Daenerys's father), Cersei, Bronn, and all the rulers who came before.

Martin's ability to craft multifaceted characters and intricate plots leaves a lasting impact, making the series a must-read for fans of the genre. Despite the challenges of reading such a vast and occasionally slow-moving span of stories, the reward is immense, offering a depth of experience that few other works can match. Whether through the morally ambiguous journey of Jon Snow or the relentless determination of Daenerys Targaryen, Martin weaves a tale that resonates on both a personal and epic scale. Even with the looming uncertainties of the unpublished The Winds of Winter, the existing volumes are more than enough to solidify the series' place in literary history.

A true 10/10 experience.

Cover image from Muddy Colors